The Biden administration has initiated the removal of the Confederate statue in Arlington Cemetery, a significant Civil War Reconciliation Memorial, with demolition crews moving in for its scheduled dismantling.
By yourNEWS Media Staff
The Confederate statue in Arlington Cemetery, Washington DC, is being dismantled as part of a decision by the Biden administration. John Reid from Richmond’s Morning News reported on the demolition process, which is expected to take place on Monday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing debate over Confederate symbols in the United States.
Congress, with the support of 41 Republicans alongside Democrats, voted earlier this year to remove the statue, with plans to complete the demolition no later than January 1, 2024. This decision will allocate millions of U.S. dollars to dismantle the memorial, originally dedicated in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge.
The statue, notable as the most important work of Jewish artist Moses Ezekiel, has been a part of Arlington Cemetery since its dedication. The Virginia Council provides background on the statue, explaining that it was part of a series dedicated to national healing and peacemaking, including the Memorial Bridge linking Virginia to Washington, D.C. The memorial was erected to honor Southern soldiers and promote reconciliation between the North and South after the Civil War.
Every U.S. president from William McKinley to Barack Obama has historically placed an honorary wreath at the memorial in a formal ceremony, a tradition that ceased after 2009. The decision to remove this historic statue follows a broader movement to reassess and often remove symbols associated with the Confederacy and its legacy, intensified in the wake of George Floyd’s death and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests.
The removal of this memorial from Arlington Cemetery reflects a significant shift in how the United States confronts and interprets its historical symbols, particularly those associated with the Civil War and the Confederacy. This action raises questions about the future of other historical monuments and the ways in which the nation addresses its past.
The statue was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924.
The statue was the most important work by Jewish artist Moses Ezekiel.